Things---They are a Changin'

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, we truly are the Senior Couple now.  There are only two other couples who were here when we arrived in St. George last June.  We welcomed another 3 couples this week with a Hi Hi Hi party at Jacob's.  We had Indian fry bread with all the toppings, beans and dutch oven cobbler. We then listened to a guest speaker who helped restore the Jacob Hamblin home when the church obtained the property in 1970.  He has a real affinity for Jacob.  He owns property right next to the home and has constructed a tepee and has other period pieces of farm equipment etc.  He is very involved in the Scout program and has troops from all the over valley come and hold their Arrow of Light ceremonies in the tepee.  It was a fun night, but the fact that Bruce and I are the oldies of the group just reminds me how quickly this all coming to an end.

It was transfer day yesterday, as well.  Which means more of our sweet sisters departed to places all over the world.  Sister Ruiz went home to Puerto Rico, Sister Morales to Mexico and Sister Biery to Kentucky.  Again, there are only a few of the Sisters who were here when we arrived still serving. But the work does not stop.  It doesn't even skip a beat.  Three Sisters left and six arrived, ready to hit the ground running. It truly is the analogy of pulling your finger out of a bucket of water.  There is no hole, it just fills in.  Now I follow all of these sweet girls who have gone home, on Facebook. Some are engaged and getting married, others are working, others going to school.  But I now have friends from England, Tonga, Germany, Pennsylvania and other wonderful places in the world. There is no other organization like the church, who brings people from every country, every culture and throws them together and says "Now get to work and go bring the message of the gospel to all you find."  Just think if governments did this.  Don't think we would have as many conflicts as we do.

The only thing that doesn't change here are the visitors who just keep coming.  We are in the thick of our busy season, and will see hundred of people a day.  The last two Sundays we had 10 French and German buses at the VC.  Funny thing happened on the way to the Bus, our Director, Elder Cleverly, was in the Annex and a German Bus pulled up and the guests came in through the annex.  Elder Cleverly does not know German so as they entered he got frustrated and just pointed towards the VC.  After they left, he went to Sister Groeneveld, (who is from Germany) and said, Sister Groeneveld "you have to teach me a few phrases or words in German.  I look like an idiot just pointing."  She replied, "Elder Cleverly, the way you say hello to Germans, is HELLO."  Most speak some English."  We do tend to act goofy when the French or others from other countries visit.

But Bruce and I both had great visitors who asked questions and wanted to understand more about the church.  I had a couple from Beijing China and when they understood I had been to Beijing, they got so excited. They couldn't believe I had visited their country. Then when I offered them a Book of Mormon in Chinese they were ecstatic but they wanted an English copy.  They did try to pay me and we bowed several times.  I'm sure I was politically incorrect but they were so happy.  I also had a couple from Syracuse New York who were delightful.  They had visited Palmyra but they took a Book of Mormon and couldn't say enough nice things about the tour and about our volunteer service.  Now I hope they read the book and contact the missionaries.

P-Day-------was spectacular.  We took the Cleverly's and Gifford's to Torowheep and Mount Trumbull.  Look at the Pictures, you will be impressed.  Elder and Sister Cleverly have worked so hard since they arrived in January, they needed a break.  They asked if we would take them and we were happy to oblige.  This is one fantastic spot.  Very remote, hard to get too, but you drive, literally, to the edge of the Grand Canyon.  Your view is beautiful.  You see the Colorado river in both directions and looking East you see Lava Rapids, a class 8-10 rapid that throws most river runners.  If you go on You Tube you can watch the brave of heart try to run this rapid.  Very scary.  The Gifford's loved it so much they went back yesterday and took the Sutherlands. Mount Trumbull is where the pioneers found the lumber to build the temple.  Again, how they found it and then freighted timber out of there is remarkable.  It is 80 miles South of St. George.

One of our favorite things about this experience is those who choose to visit us.  We love sharing the Historical Sites and St. George with any and all.  This past weekend the Brown's and Germaine's made the trek to "Little Dixie."  We had a wonderful time catching up and laughing, eating and more laughing.  We went to Pine Valley and Mountain Meadow.  We went up to Kayenta to the street painting festival.  We met a delightful artist (a darling returned Mormon missionary, mother and artist) who painted a fantastic work of 3-D art on the street.  We took pictures and even Bruce, Bruce and Monty got in the game.  We love these dear friends and really appreciate them coming to visit

Well, things, they are a changin' and we can't stop it.  Sr. Couples come and they go, but the work goes on and on and on!!!  We have loved every minute and want to finish strong.  Trying not to get trunky.

We love you all.  Keep safe

Bruce and Dawna

Elder and Sister

PS  Happy Birthday to our great athlete, smart, very cute, good boy& grandson 'Noah"  We hope your day was filled with all your favorite things.

PSS  Congratulations to our other great athlete, smart, very cute, good boy & grandson, "Logan". Not only did he get accepted to BYU, he received a 4 year tuition scholarship and if that's not enough he received the "Disney" scholarship as well.  Also he pushed the button on his mission papers. So now we are playing the waiting game.  Where in the world will he go?  I'm praying for Boise Idaho.  I'm a big chicken and want him safe.